Ticket or stamp delivering receptacle.



v. HEGARTY. TICKET OR STAMP DELIVERING REGEITAGLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, 1908.

904,428. Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

UNITED STATES ICE.

TICKET ORZSTAMP DELIVERING RECEP'IACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 17, 1908.

Application filed May 23, 1908. Serial No. 434,598.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VINCENT HEGARTY, head teacher, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Dresden, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ticket or Stamp Delivering Receptacles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in receptacles for delivering stamps or tickets, and to delivering mechanism inclosed within the receptacle.

Generally speaking the invention is an improvement on the construction shown in my prior Patent No. 885,4t72, and it has for its object to provide improved guiding and feeding means for the strip of stamps or tickets, such means involving a novel construction and arrangement of parts.

The invention has as a further obj ect the provision of means for preventing the operation of the parts, after the predetermined number of stamps or tickets contained in the receptacle have been removed. It is essential that such means he provided in connection with the specific subject-matter of this invention, for the reason that continued op eration of the parts after the removal of all the stamps or tickets from the receptacle Would result in the breakage of certain ele ments of the feeding means.

The invention has as a further object to provide stamp or ticket feeding means of such nature that a frictional tension is placed on the strip of stamps or tickets whereby the latter may be pulled out of the receptacle at a very slow rate of speed, the operation of single delivery being thus facilitated.

The details of construction will be explained in the following description which is to be taken in connection with the annexed drawings, the latter showing a preferred and advantageous form of the invention, while the novel features of construction will be defined in the claims hereunto appended.

While the drawings show a preferred form of the invention, I do not restrict myself to such form, as modifications may be made which will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In the said drawings :Figure 1 is a top plan view of a receptacle and a stamp or ticket feeding mechanism therein, the cover of the receptacle being removed. Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal sectional View showing one of the ticket compartments and the stamp or ticket feeding mechanism therein, the complete receptacle comprising any desired number of such compartments. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a spring rewound reel of which two are employed in cooperation, the other reel being'a counterpart in construction. Fig. 4 is a side elevation of such reel, showing the operation preventing device previously referred to. Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the exterior of a complete receptacle constructed in accordance with the present invention and in which four stamp or ticket compartments are embodied.

lVhile a number of stamp or ticket compartments may be embodied in one receptacle, as shown in Fig. 5, it will be sufficient for the purposes of this specification to show and describe in detail only one of such compartments and it will be understood that the other compartments are exactly similar in construction to the one herein discussed. The compartment or receptacle is designated 2 and is of rectangular form. Its side walls are constructed to receive the ends of transverse parallel stationary shafts 28 and 29 upon which the respective reels 27 and 26 are mounted for rotation, the latter being formed at their ends with annular guide flanges 30. The bodies of the reels 26 and 27 are hollow in order that the spiral ten sioning springs 36 may beconfined therein, which springs each have an end connected to the reel shaft 28 or 29, as the case may be, and to the reel body 27 or 26. Above the reels 26 and 27 tensioning guide rollers are disposed, the parallel transverse shafts of said rollers being journaled in the side walls of the receptacle 2. These rollers are des ignated 7 and 1, the former being located adjacent the reel 26 and the latter being located adjacent the reel 27. The roller 7 is forced toward the roller 1 so as to maintain the proper tension upon the tickets or stamps drawn between said rollers by suitably mounted expansive coiled springs 11 which as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 bear at one end against stationary brackets secured to the side walls of the receptacle 2 and at their other ends bear against a suitable sleeve or bracket provided on the shaft of the roller 7.

The cover of the receptacle 2, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, is constructed with a transverse slot 6 directly above the rollers 1 and 7 and communicating with the throat-way between said rollers. The slot 6 is made of relatively large proportions in order that easy access may be had to the rollers for the purpose of moving the roller 7 against its spring tension away from the roller 6 as in the act of introducing a strip of stamps or tickets into the receptacle. Ordinarily, however, it is desirable to partially close the slot 6 and for this purpose two oppositely located slightly spaced closure plates 37 and 38 are employed. It is preferred to mount the plate 38 on hinges in order that it'may be swung back to allow of access being had to the interior mechanism through the slot 6. If desired the plate 37 may be similarly mounted.

A ticket or stamp feeding band 31 constructed of cotton or other suitable textile fabric is passed over the roller 1, between the same and the roller 7, over the reel 27 to which one end of said band is secured and under the reel 26 to which the other end of said band is secured. The strip of stamps or tickets 25 has one end secured to the band 31 by a thin metal clasp 17, which, as illustrated more particularly in Fig. 3, has an edge portion secured rigidly to said band and a toothed free edge portion which is bent upon the strip 25 in such manner that its teeth will frictionally engage the strip and hold the end thereof rigidly to the band 31. The clasp 17 is so thin that it does not distort the band 31 or interfere with the latter being wound upon the reel 26, adjacent which said clasp is located. The strip 25 is normally confined between the windings of the band 31 upon the reel 26.

It is preferred to employ in connection with said band a supplementary tensioning device comprised of a triangular member 9, which is pivotally mounted in such manner that one face thereof will bear against the band 31, thus guiding the latter and aiding in maintaining said band taut.

The shaft of the roller 7 projects at one end through the side wall of the casing 2 and is squared to receive a knob 8 by means of which said shaft may be turned when it is desired to operate the feeding mechanism so as to project the strip 25 through the slot 6.

The springs 36 are so arranged within the reels 26 and 27 that the band 31 is always under tension. Obviously if the mechanism were operated after the supply of stamps or tickets had been exhausted, such operation would result in unduly winding the band 31 upon the reel 27 and in tearing away the connection of said band with the reel 26. This would be a material damage to the working parts and would necessitate the time, labor and expense involved in repairing the mechanlsm.

To prevent such improper operation of the parts after the supply of stamps 0r tickets has been exhausted, I employ a novel stop device which is illustrated more particularly in Fig. l. Such stop device comprises essentially a stationary projecting finger 32 on each shaft 28 and 29, and a disk 33 mounted on the adjacent flange 30 of each reel 26 and 27. The disk 33 rotates about a central axis 35 and has a portion of its periphery formed with notches 34 and the remaining portion plain. At each rotation of the reels, the finger 32 will engage in a notch 34 and move the disk 33 a step. Such step by step operation of the disk 33 is continued at each successive rotation of the reels, until the plain peripheral surface of the disk 33 is presented to the finger 32, at which time no further operation of said disk or rotation of the reel is possible, since the finger will serve as a positive stop, this function of course being had in cooperation with said disk.

It is preferred that the rollers 1 and 7 be faced with rubber in order that the frictional resistance between the same and the band 31 and strip 25 may be augmented.

The arrangement of'parts above set forth is such that the guide rollers 1 and 7 may be of comparatively small size and are readily accessible through the slot 6. The organization of parts as a whole is compact.

The receptacle has a forwardly extended platform or shelf upon which a moistening sponge is mounted.

The provision of the plates 37 and 38 affords a means whereby the stamps or tickets may be readily detached from their strips.

It will be obvious that the feeding of the strip 25 is accomplished by rotating the shaft of the roller 7 which bears frictionally against the band 31 and which thus serves to move said band, the movement of the band 31 being taken up by the rotation of the reels 26 and 27, the latter being under spring tension as explained.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a mechanism of the class described, in combination, two reels, a band having its ends connected to'said reels in such manner that when said band is wound upon one reel it is unwound from the other, means for moving said band, means for maintaining said band taut, said band having means to secure the end of a strip of stamps or tickets, means for guiding the free end of said strip away from said band, and means for locking the parts against operative movement at the completion of the feeding movement of said band.

2. In a mechanism of the type set forth, in combination, a stamp feeding band, two reels to which the ends of said band are connected, said band being wound upon one reel when it is unwound from the other, two guide rollers, one of which is spring pressed towards the other, said band being passed between said guide rollers and over one of the same, and means disposed between one of said guide rollers and the reel adjacent thereto and bearing against said band to maintain the latter taut.

3. In mechanism of the class described, in combination, a reel, a band having an end secured thereto and having means to secure the end of a strip of tickets or stamps, means for unwinding said band from said reel, said means serving to feed said strip of tickets or stamps, means for maintaining said band taut, and means for preventing operative rotation of said reel at the completion of the operative movement of said band, and comprising a disk rotatably secured to said reel at one side thereof and having a portion of its periphery formed with notches and a portion of its periphery plain, and a stationary finger arranged to engage successively in said notches at each revolution of said reel, said finger engaging the plain portion of said disk and preventing further rotation of said reel at the completion of the operative movement of said band.

l. In mechanism of the class described, in

combination, a reel, a band having an end secured thereto and having means to secure the end of a strip of tickets or stamps, means for unwinding said band from said reel, said means serving to feed said strip of tickets or stamps, means for maintaining said band taut, and means for preventing operative rotation of said reel at the completion of the operative movement of said band, comprising a rotatably mounted disk having a portion of its periphery formed with notches and a portion of its periphery plain and a finger arranged to engage successively in said notches and effect a step by step rotation of said disk at each complete revolution of said reel, said finger finally engaging said plain portion and preventing further rotation of said reel in the direction in which the band is being unwound therefrom.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

VINCENT HEGARTY.

Vitnesses PAUL ARnAs, CLARE SIMON. 

